Chapter 28
Demi pulls back slowly. Her lips are red with evidence of our kiss.
And fuck, what a kiss it was.
She’s the epitome of everything I’ve ever wanted.
The list begins and ends with Demi. I want more of her, all of her, but I won’t do a damn thing I know she doesn’t want as well.
So whatever the hell this is, we do it on her terms. She can set the pace, the tone, and the rules if she needs to.
I know she doesn’t want anyone to think less of her for her personal choices, but honestly, fuck anyone who dares to question her integrity or place in our world.
Our world, because sports belong to women too.
“You’re stunning,” I say, unable to keep it to myself any longer.
She laughs lightly, pulling herself off my lap and sits next to me on the floor.
Her fingers tracing her lips. I glance out the window to notice the weather has completely changed in the last hour.
Before we kissed, the sky was dark and moody.
Now, there’s nothing but sunshine and an actual rainbow outside my window.
“I’m not sure we’ll finish this puzzle today.” She stands and takes her cup to the counter.
“I’ll leave it right here. We can finish it on our next day off.”
“Your cat won’t destroy it?” She gives me a pointed look as she knocks her head to the side.
“Birdie has manners.” I lean against the couch, crossing my arms over my chest and forcing myself to focus on the conversation at hand to help the situation I still have going on from the time she spent in my lap. “She won’t mess with our puzzle.”
“Uh-huh, okay.”
I smile at her.
“But I should go,” she says, pulling her cardigan on. “We both work tomorrow, and I still need to do some laundry.”
I make my way to the kitchen island where she’s standing, arms crossed over her chest. My hands land on the outside of her arms, gently holding her in place as I look down at her.
She gazes up at me. And there are a million things I want to say about today, but she beats me to it.
“I hope I didn’t come on too strong or…I don’t know, awkward earlier. I’m just in this new phase of my life where I’m trying to do more of the things I want, and I’ve just really wanted to do that I suppose.”
“Dem, I have zero issues with you kissing me.”
Her head shakes as she smiles down at the floor.
“You know what I mean, though, right? I just don’t want to ruin our friendship and our working relationship. I value both of those things.”
I nod, pulling her into me for a hug. She nestles against my chest like it’s exactly where she belongs.
“Can I be honest?” I clear my throat, still holding her, and she nods against my chest.
“I like our relationship at work—and as friends too—and I never want to put you in a bind, but I know I want more. If the options were to be only your friend or be the love of your life, you know I’m going to choose the latter. Every time.”
Her head pulls away from my chest and she looks up at me, brow creasing and lips parted.
“The love of my life, huh?” Her lips pull together, trying to stifle a smile. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Her words are broken by pauses between them. Like she’s trying to wrap her head around the fact that I genuinely want her.
“Now I’m the one who doesn’t want to come on too strong,” I joke, taking a step back so we’re face to face.
“But…yeah. It isn’t a question for me, I wouldn’t need to think about what I want.
It’s really your call how we move forward from all of this.
You want this to be it? I’ll be bummed, but I respect it.
Want to keep doing this in private, my lips are locked.
” I shrug. “I promise, Dem, this is all you.”
Sometimes I look at Demi and think she’s never actually been properly loved. Never been wholeheartedly chosen. Never been able to confidently feel secure in a relationship. And it makes my hatred for her ex grow stronger every time.
“I think I like kissing you…” she whispers across the space between us.
I smirk, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “Oh, I know you like kissing me.”
“I need to stop complimenting you, it’s only growing your ego.” She sighs with an eye roll, and I approach her again, pressing my lips to the top of her head like it’s the most natural response.
“Can I see you tomorrow?” I ask.
Her cheeks perk up, and I see those dimples as she nods with a smile.
“Yes.”
She grabs her things and turns toward the door. I follow behind and reach my hand to the doorknob before she can, pulling it open for her.
“Get some rest, Dem.” I lean against the doorframe as she walks into the hallway and stretch my neck to watch her leave.
She looks over her shoulder mid stride. “You too, Twelve.”
Practice today fired me up. Although that’s not entirely new. I’m a sucker for a rivalry game and that’s exactly what we have coming up on Sunday night. A prime-time home game against a team we always battle hard with? Sign me the fuck up.
I sent Demi a text this morning before practice and then didn’t check my phone until coming back into the locker room to change. A boyish grin spreads over my face when I see there isn’t just one, but two missed texts from her.
Girl of my dreams
Thank you for the chocolate chip cookies at my door this morning.
I appreciate that you feed into my obsession with sweets.
After she left yesterday, I did a quick grocery order and added some snacks I thought might be a good idea to have on hand for her if there’s a possibility she’ll be hanging out more.
The pre-cut cookie dough looked like an easy enough thing to throw in the oven, so I grabbed a few packs of those and put some in a Tupperware this morning.
It was really a fifty-fifty shot she hadn’t left for the day yet, but most people aren’t out their door before seven in the morning like I am, so I figured I was in the clear.
I was in the neighborhood
Girl of my dreams
Is that so?
There’s more where that came from.
Girl of my dreams
Oh really?
Yep, kitchen is stocked.
Girl of my dreams
Wow… good omelets and cookies? I don’t know what to say.
Say you’ll have dinner with me tonight.
Girl of my dreams
Hmm sounds tempting.
I’ll cook. Whatever you want.
Bold of me to offer to cook for her, but I’d learn how to make a four-course meal if I needed to for her.
Girl of my dreams
Do you like seafood?
I like everything.
Girl of my dreams
Right. Okay… I could go for some shrimp tacos. But maybe a bowl version? I can help cook.
Yeah, I’ll need to look up a recipe or figure out what I need to make this, but I can do that. How hard can it be?
Done. And nope. I’m cooking, just come over. 7:30 good?
Girl of my dreams
I’ll be there.
I slide my phone into the pocket of my shorts.
A grin the size of Texas on my face and I’m physically unable to stop smiling.
I haven’t shared a single detail about Demi with anyone—and not that I haven’t wanted to, because god, have I.
But I don’t know how much Demi wants people knowing about her personal life, and somehow, I’ve become part of that personal life.
“Look at that smile.” Ford’s strides slow as he approaches me.
“Only one reason for a smile like that,” Nate says as he pulls a shirt over his head.
The two of them stand before me, Ford’s hands on his hips as he’s smiling at me.
“Will you two leave me alone? Jesus Christ. Can’t a guy just smile?”
“It’s a big one, though. So, who’s the girl?” Nate tips his chin my way.
“Oh. You know what? I know.” Ford turns to Nate, whispering something in his ear like they’re fucking kids.
“Just whatever you’re saying, say it out loud.” I grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder and run my free hand over my hair.
The locker room has emptied out for the most part, just a few stragglers at the far end aside from the three of us.
“It’s D-E-M-I,” Nate whispers.
“I don’t get why you just spelled her name. These are grown-ups around us, you know that, right? They can spell.”
Ford’s thumb jerks in Nate’s direction. “Dad life.”
“I’m not saying anything.” I take a few steps toward the doors, both of them not far behind me as we all walk out into the hallway.
Not saying anything gives me away, but it’s also not something I feel comfortable discussing until I know Demi is okay with it.
The last thing I want is for her to feel judged or uncomfortable at work—not that these clowns would make her feel that way, but I know Demi.
Unless she wants people to know, it’s not up to me to share.
She clearly told Abby we’re neighbors, which is probably the only reason Ford suspected Demi to begin with.
Well, and I suppose me spilling that we had coffee together might’ve tipped them off too.
The two of them change the subject as we’re walking out.
I hear mentions of different routes and screen plays, and I feel settled knowing they’re now talking about practice and no longer my life.
Although I want to fucking scream about how I’ve kissed her two times, I’ve been giving my best poker face for weeks.
Warm air greets us as the doors open and we head out to our trucks. Ford snagged a spot up front, and I wave as he hops in. Nate and I continue walking toward the patch of magnolia trees where we’re parked.
“Doing anything with the kids tonight?”
His truck starts once we’re close enough with a roaring sound. “Mia saw something online about a little league fundraiser happening, so I think she wants to do that and then go buy some Halloween decorations.”
“It’s September.”
His hands raise in front of his chest. “Please. I know. But she loves it and I don’t question the things she loves. Plus, the kids like when we take out all the spooky shit.”
I nod, palming his shoulder before he gets in his truck and drives away. I do the same, plugging in my phone and pulling up the internet to find a good—but easy—recipe for shrimp tacos.
“Excuse me, where can I find your spices?” The basket in my hand is empty except for the list I jotted down in the car on the back of my receipt from the coffee shop.
Shrimp
Cumin
Rice—white rice, maybe Jasmine? Basmati?
Limes
Avocados
Sour Cream
Canned chipotle chiles
The recipe I found also called for cheese and corn, both of those I miraculously have at home already.
“Aisle seven,” the teen employee replies.
I love food, but I don’t cook things from scratch very often. Turns out, cooking for one is pretty fucking depressing, and I haven’t actually wanted to make a huge mess in my kitchen just for me. That’s why those pre-made meals have been my go-to.
Seriously? I mutter under my breath as I’m bent down looking at the spices. I see taco seasoning, but can’t find ground cumin anywhere. Can I use taco seasoning and it’ll taste the same?
Dammit.
I pull my phone from my shorts and hover over Nate’s name before quickly pressing call.
“Hey,” Nate answers followed by absolute chaos. Someone’s crying and there’s music playing and there’s also someone asking him rapid-fire questions in the background.
“Can I use taco seasoning for the same effect as ground cumin?” I ask, cutting right to the chase. He clearly has his hands full, and I hate interrupting his family time as it is.
“Uh, I mean, cumin is in taco seasoning. But so is salt, paprika, stuff like that, so if you use taco seasoning I probably wouldn’t add the other ingredients.” He pauses. “Wait, what are you doing? Are you cooking?”
“I’m shopping and then cooking.”
“Liam, you’re grocery shopping?” I hear Mia’s voice through the speaker and let out a heavy sigh.
“Yes, I’m grocery shopping. I do this sometimes.”
“I think he has a lady friend coming over,” I hear Nate say to her, and Mia lets out a gasp.
“Okay, well, thanks for the help, Campbells. Have a good night.”
“Bye.” It’s a collective goodbye from everyone. My best guess is they were in the car and everyone heard the conversation.
I grab the taco seasoning and the rest of the things on my list, hustling through the aisles not letting myself browse.
At the checkout counter, the older man ringing me up starts a casual conversation, one that ends with wishing me luck on Sunday, and I shoot him a smile and a thank you as I leave.
Spending time with Demi tonight has me excited. So fucking excited. And I refuse to let anything ruin that—even if my phone just buzzed with a text from my father.